Safety device



Aug. 15, 1939. F LAMBACH 2,169,260

SAFETY DEVICE Filed April 20, 1936 3 SheetS-Sheet l ATTORNEYS F. LAMBACH SAFETY DEVICE Aug. 15, 1939.

Filed April 20, 1936 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FE/ ?"Z A1/7546A ATTORNEYS Aug. l5, 1939.

F. LAMBACH SAFETY DEVICE 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2O INVENTOR. Fe/ rz ,l ,4MB/9CH ATToRNEYsl APatented Aug. 15, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE Fritz Lambach, Belleville, N. J., assigner to American Textile Engineering Inc., Kearny,

`N. J., a corporation of New JerseyV Application April zo, 193s, serial No.4 75,344 9 claims. (ci. 21d- 71) The present invention relates to safety controls and other improvements in centrifugal machines.

Although not restricted thereto, the present in vention will be particularly described in connection with its application to a centrifugal eXtractor, for conditioning yarns, of the type shown in the copending application of Charles F. Dulken, Serial No. 700,214, led November 29, 1933. -In this application, there is disclosed a centrifugal extractor Ifor treating cones or tubes of yarns, the treating liquid being fed into the interior of the cone' or tube and being forced by centrifugal venergy through the annular body of yarn and extracted therefrom, while rotating the yarn holder at a relatively high speed.

In the structure shown in said copending application, the yarn cone or cylinder is locked in the rotating basket by a suitable latch.

A separate cover is put over the opening in the said casing. During operation, the operator may readily remove said separate cover; or she may fail to apply it upon initiation of operation. In either case, the rapidly rotating devices would be exposed, with the resultant possibility, that injury might be caused to the hands of the operator, if accidentally they should be inserted within the interior of the casing.

In addition, since it is necessary not only to latch the yarn cone or cylinder in the rotating basket, but also to cover the main casing, there is considerable handling and delay occasioned in setting up the machine for the centrifugal extraction operation and in subsequently dismantling the machine to enable the treated cone or cylinder of yarn to be removed and a new one to be inserted, with decrease in efficiency.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved extractor construction of the character above described in which assurance will be had that the operator will be protected and guarded from injury by the rotating element during operation of the machine, without the need of providing complicated safety mecha- 5 nisms and without the necessity of relying upon manual intervention to operate such safety mechanisms.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism o'f the character above described in which it will be possible to remove and apply the outer cover to the casing and a latch to the interiorly revolving structure by a single operation, thus materially decreasing the amount of time required for removing a cone or cylinder of yarn after treatment and for replacing a new cone or cylinder of yarn therein for the next treatment. Otherobjects will be apparent or will appear during the course of the specification.

In accomplishing the above objects according to one embodiment of the invention, it has been 5 found mostI satisfactory to provide a combined basket latchr and cover arrangement, the basket latch to hold the' rotating basket and yarn package and the cover to close the opening in the casing, whereby the operator by closing the cover 10 may alsollatch the yarn package in position in the basket.' w f 1 Preferably, the latch or holder construction for the yarn package and which serves to hold the cylinder ortcone of yarn in position is pro- 15 vided with a bearing Vconnection so as'to permit the latch or holder carried`by the cover to rotate in'respectto, thev cover construction'.

In one preferredforxn this is accomplished by a series of links which' suspendthe outer bearing 20 element or the fixed bearing element.

To accomplish 'other'objects of the present invention, the driving motor is preferably interconnected with the cover arrangement so that until the 'cover is closed, the motor may not be 25 operated and, moreover, so that the cover may not be opened until the motor has stopped.

Although this may be accomplished by a variety of manners and by one or more switch constructions controlled by closure of the cover, it 30 has been found satisfactory in one embodiment to place a switch in the motor circuit which will be open until the cover is closed to prevent the motor from being started until the cover has been applied.

The motor may also be connected through a centrifugal device and a lever arrangement with an interlocking means actuated to lock the cover upon the casing as long as the motor is rotating.

A manual switch, which forms no part of the 40 present invention may also be provided to start and stop the motor or, asis usually more preferable from a viewpoint of commercial practice, the motor may be set automatically to stop after a predetermined period of operation.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description which when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will illustrate the preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side sectional view of the assent-1 -bly showing the motor, the casing, the rotatable basket, the holder for holding the cone or cylin; 55

der and the cover with the centrifugal latching arrangement.

Figure 2 is a side view in partial section upo the line 2--2 of Figure 1 showing the cover latch and automatic motor switch in front elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view in partial section upon the line 3--3 of Figure 2 upon a slightly enlarged scale with the cover of the switch arrangement removed and with the cover latch closed.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary side view similar to Figure 3, showing the cover latch opened, and only the connecting rod of the automatic motor switch.

Figure 4 is a top view upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the cover latch and automatic motor switch in top elevation.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side View upon the line 5--5 of Figure 1 showing the balanced spring cover hinge construction.

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively transverse sectional views upon the lines 6-6 and 1-1 of Figure 1, Figure 6 showing the cover construction and Figure 7 showing the drive construction.

Referring to Figure 1, the motor A is provided with a drive B to the basket C inside the casing D, which basket C receives the cone of yarn J.

The treating and extractor device D is provided with a cover E carrying the rotatable latch or construction F. The cover E is held down upon the casing D by the casing latch G.

The casing latch G cooperates with the centrifugal locking arrangement H to lock the latch G in closed position when the motor A has been started and is driving the basket C.

'I'he switch I, also shown in Figures 2 and 3, opens the motor circuit when the cover is open.

Referring to Figure 1, the motor A may be preferably supported on the cross bars I0 which are in turn supported on the ribs 25 of the machine frame Il.

The shaft I2 of the motor projects downwardly and receives the sleeve I3 and is held in postion by the set screw I5.

'Ihe pulley I4 forming part of the drive B is slotted at I6 and receives the belt I1, which at its other end fits into the groove I8 of the pulley I9 formed on the lower part of the rotatable cup 20.

The rotatable cup20 is provided with a reduced portion 2i which is pinned at 22 to the conical end 23 of the bearng stud 24. 'I'he bear-` ing stud 24 is provided with the ball hearings 26, 21, which are enclosed in the cup 28, said cup being supported by the rubber gasket 28 upon the sleeve 30 which is connected to the base frame II by suitable ribs or arms 30a (see Figure '1).

The cup 28 is provided with an extension 3| which receives a threaded end member 32 and the double lock nut 33, said nuts serving as a reaction member for the coil spring 34 which at its other end reacts against the shoulder 35 on the interior of the supporting sleeve 30.

The ball bearings 26 and 21 are enclosed by the cover plate 36.

The exterior cylinder 31 of the basket C is perforated at 38 and has a downwardly extending boss 39. The boss 39 is providedwith the recess 40 and bores 4I to receive the bolts 42, which screw into the tapped openings 43 in the flange 44 at the upper end of the sleeve 2|.

'I'he basket C also encloses the central conical holder 45`perforated at 46 which holder is centrally positioned in respect to the cylindrical enclosure 36 by the perforated annular plates 41.

The cylindrical casing 48 of the device D, at its lower end 48 closely fits on tothe shoulder 50 inside of the flanges 5I of the upper frame member 52 which is connected to the lower frame structure Il by the bolts 53.

The cylinder 48 is provided with outstanding ears or bosses 54 which are tapped at 55 to receive the upper threaded ends 56 of the bolts 53, the nuts 51 and 58 respectively locking the upper frame 52 to the lower frame II and the casing 48 to the upper frame 52.

The lower frame 52 has inwardly extending continuous annular flange 53 which at its inner end is upturned, as indicated at 88, which flange forms a trough 62 to receive the liquid discharged from the basket C. The trough 62 in turn discharges said liquid through the pipe 63 connected to the said flange 59 at 64.

The yarn package or cone J, which also may take the form of a cylinder has a central conical form 65 perforated at 66 and usually composed of paper. The lower end is closed at 61 and all of the perforations 66 are covered by the mass of yarn 68. f

The construction so far described is substantially disclosed in said copending application of Charles F. Dulken, Serial No. 700,214, and forms no part of the present invention, but has been described In this application in order to make clear one specific application of the present invention, to which the present invention is by no means restricted.

In operation the yarn cone J is placed in position as shown in Figure 1, and then latched in position. The latch is shown in said Duiken application as pivotally connected to the perforated cylinder C.

The cover is then closed and through an opening in said cover the treating liquid is poured into the cone 65 to form a pool 69 (see Figure l). Then the operator switches on the motor A, which rapidly rotates the basket C and the cone J through the pulleys I4 and I3 and the belt I1. The liquid passes through the perforations 66, through the body of yarn 68, through the perforations 46 in the outer conical holder 45 and 38 in the cylinder 31, as indicated by the arrows 10, whereupon the treating liquid flows into the trough 62 and out through the pipe 63.

Not only will the liquid 69 be thoroughly distributed through the yarn body 68, but in addition any excess thereof will be thoroughly extracted. The operation may be continued until the operator turns off the switch or the motor may automatically be stopped after a predetermined time interval.

The cover and latch may then be removed, the treated yarn body lifted out of position and a new yarn body inserted.

The present application is particularly directed to the interconnection between the outer cover E and the interior basket latch or holder F, so as to enable both to be closed and opened by one movement or operation; to the switch I which opens the circuit of the motor A, unless the cover E is closed; and to the centrifugal control H which prevents the cover being opened while the motor is running.

'I'he switch I and the centrifugal control H are primarily for the purpose of making certain that the operator cannot lift the cover while the motor A is rotating the basket C and also to prevent the operator from turning on the motor A until the cover is closed.

Referring specifically to the cover E, the cover is provided with a central opening and with the elevations |0|, each of which has the ilat |02 receiving the bolt |03. The end of the bolt |03 carries the ball member |04.

The ball member |04 nts intothe rubber cap or recess |05 which is received in the hollow |06 formed by the two link sections |01 which are connected together at |00 to form the combined link elements |09, three being utilized (see also Figure 6).

The lower portion oi the link |09 is also provided with a similar socket ||0 receiving the rubber liner into which is tted the ball ||2. The ball ||2 is held at the end of the arm ||3 which arm is connected to the cup structure ||9.

In the recess ||4 at the bottom of the cup structure ||9 is tted the plate ||5, which plate is screwed to the cup |9 by the screws ||1.

The inner end oi the plate is provided with a groove against the shoulder on the rotating member H8.

The cup 'structure I9 encloses the ball bearing |20 and the inverted base I 2| of the cup is provided with a washer |22 fitting against the sleeve |23 of the member |24 whichis threaded at |25 onto the rotating element ||6. 'I'he member |24 clamps the inner element of the ball bearing |20 to move with the rotatable element H6.

The ball bearing |20 may be packed with grease or lubricant and is eectively sealed by the washers ||6 and |22 against escape oi' grease or ingress of treating fluid.

The rotatable element I6 is provided with a central bore |26 which continues into the nipple' |21, said nipple fitting into the central sleeve |26 oi' the conical nipple element |29, which conical element |29 is inserted into the open end of the paper cone 65.

The sleeve |26 may slide upon the nipple |21 and is normally pressed by the spring |30 so that it will be stopped against the stop ring |3|. When" inserted into a paper cone, as indicated at 65, it will be moved away from the stop ring I 3| The rotating element ||6 is also provided with a plate |32 from Vwhich extend downwardly the centering ilngers |33 each of which is provided with the recess |34 to ilt over the inner edge of the cylinder 31, as indicated at |35 (see Figure 1).

It is thus apparent that the cover E, by means of the ball and socket connections |04, |05 and ||2, and the links |09 may carry the outer bearing element or cup ||9, within which the sleeve element ||8 rotates, said sleeve element also being bored to permit introduction of the treating uid intothe cone 65, as indicated by the arrow |36 in Figure 1.

The arms |33. being rigid with the sleeve ||6, will center the bearing in respect to the cylinder 31, while the conical insert |29 will do the same for the paper cone 65.

The links |09 permit sufficient movement between the cover E and the rotatable latch or holder arrangement F to accurately center the conical insert |29 and the arms |33 in respect to the cone 65 and the basket C.

It is thus apparent that the rotatable holder F may be raised or lowered with the cover and that such holder will automatically adjust itself to center the upper bearing carried by the Acover E to the basket C and the yarn package J, which in turn are centered on the lower bearing element 24.

The cover E is hinged on the pivot rod |50 ||6 receiving a washer which presses which extends through the sleeves |5| (see particularly Figure 5), said sleeves being on the ends of the ns |52 and forming an integral part of the cover construction E.

The pivot rod |50 is ilxed by the pins |53 to said sleeves |5| and between said sleeves |5| it receives the sleeves |54 having the outstanding ilanges |55 and carrying the rod |56., The rod |56 acts as a stop for one end |51 of the spring |62. The spring |62 is coiled around the sleeve |56 and its other end is inserted at |59 into the collar |60 on the end of said sleeve |58. 'I'he collar |60 is fixed at |6| to the rod |50.

'Ihe spring |62 tends to open the cover and in so doing balances the cover so as to relieve the operator of the total weight of the cover in opening and closing the same.

\In Figure 1, is shown in section, the cover latch construction, which is shown in front elevation in Figure 2 and in side elevation in Figures 2 and 3a. Y

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the periphery of the cover E away from the hinge |50 is provided with the horizontal flange |63 towhich is attached the'plate |64 by the screw |65, said plate |64 having a bevelled forward edge |66.

'I'he cover E is also provided with a peripheral down flange 12a, fitting inside of the splash deflector element 12 on the inside of the casing rim member 1|.

The latch G is provided with a box like structure |61 which has the inwardly extending element |68 pivotally mounted at |69 on the sleeve Von the bracket |1| screwed at |12 to the casing 46 and its rim member 1|.

The bracket |1| and the box |61 are provided with the recesses |13 between which the spring |14 reacts. The spring |14 normally tends to bias the box in the direction indicated by the arrow on Figure 1, so as to force the latch plate |16 bolted at |11 to the top of the box |61 over the plate |64 attached to the top of the cover |63.

' the top of the plate |64 against the spring |14,

whereby the cover E may be unlatched and lifted from the top of the cylinder 46 together with the rotatable basket latch structure F.

Figure l shows the cover down with the cover latch G in position and the switch I is so coordinated with the latch G, that until the latch G is closed, the motor circuit is open and the motor may not be started.

The switch I is best shown in Figures 2 to 4 and is provided with a semi-cylindrical casing |90 bolted by the flange |9| and the bolts |92 to the casing 48.

The side of the casing |90 isA provided with a cover |93 which is bolted in position by the screws |94. y

The lower portion of the casing is provided with a centrally bored boss |95 which receives the cable |96, which cable has the connection |91 leading to the element |98 carrying the contact |99. I'he other wire 200 leads to the lever 204 carrying the contact 205. The spring element 202 tends to press the contacts |99 and 205 together to close the motor circuit when the cover E is closed.

The lever 204 is moved outwardly by the spring 202 so that the circuit will be broken between the contacts |99 and 205, with the result that the motor may not be started, this being best shown in Figure 3a.

When the cover E is opened, the insulating piece 203 is contacted by the lobe 231 of the cam 208, which is rotatable on the pivot 203 so as to separate the contacts |93 and 205 and open the motor circuit preventing the starting of the motor.

The cam 233 is provided with an ear 2|! to which is attached the coil spring 2| I, the other end of the coil spring 2li being attached at 2|2 to the casing |00, the coil spring normally biasing the lobe 201 toward the contact piece 233.

The shaft 20S-extends through the side of casing |30 and at its outer end carries the link 2|3 to the end 2|4 of which is pivotally attached the upwardly extending rod 2li. The rod 2li passes through a bore 2|3 in the ilange 2I1. Ihe upper end of the rod 2|l, when the cover is opened will be pressed upwardly by the spring 2 Il to the position shown in Figure 3a, but when the cover is closed, the rod will be pressed against the cam or bevel surface |03 of the plate |64, resulting in the contacts 205 and |33 being pressed together as shown in Figure 3.

It is thus apparent that the motor may be started only when the latch G is holding the cover down, as shown in Figure 1, in which position the rod 2li will be pressed down by contact with the cam surface on the plate |34 attached to the front end of the cover E.

However, it ispossible that the operator may lift the cover E during operation of the motor A and although this will out oil power to the motor, the basket C will still be twirling at a relatively high speed and may well cause injury.

To prevent this eventualty, the centrifugal latch H is provided to lock the latch G in position until the motor has substantially stopped.

Referring to Figure l, the pulley I4 is provided with a downwardly extending boss 22| which is received in the cup 223 to which it is pinned at 221.

The cup is provided with the peripheral ilange 220 having the downwardly extending ears 223 on which the weights 23| are pivotally mounted at 230. Moving with the weights 23| are the inturned fingers 232 which bear upon the flange 233 around the periphery of the cup 234.

The bottom of the cup 234 has a recess 23| which receives the screw stud 23B, said stud 233 passing through and being held in position on the left end 231 of the lever 233 by the lock nuts 233.

The lever 233 is pivotally mounted at 24| on the bracket member 24| attached to the cross member 33a of the frame and it is provided with the curved portion 242 to circle around the pivot element 24, as best shown in Figure 7.

The left arm 243 of the lever 233 carries the weight 244 to counterbalance the weight of the cup 234 and it is pivotaily connected at 243 to the upwardly extending rod 243 which rod at its up per end passes through an opening in the shelf 241 integral with the bracket |1| and attached to the side of the casing 43 by the iiange 243 and the screw 24|.

When the motor A is rotated at its normal speed, the weights 24| will be thrown outwardly pressing the cup 234 and the right end of the lever 231 downwardly and lifting the left end of the lever 243 and the rod 243 so that its upper end will move within the recess 250 and be stopped by the shelf 243a. This will prevent the lower end 250s of the box |01 from being moved inwardly to unlatch the plate members |13 and |34.

afnam 'Ihe locking effect of the control H will continue until the speed of the motor has substantially decreased to an extent that it is safe to raise the cover E.

In operation, the cone of yarn J is inserted within the perforated conical cylinder 45 and then the cover E together with the holder F for the basket is locked into position.

The arms |33 by means of the shoulders |34 will adjust themselves to the upper inside edges of the perforated cylinder 31 and the conical insert |23 will adjust itself t'o fit within the perforated cone 3l.

This automatic adjustment will be possible because of the relative movement permitted between the cover E and the basket latch F by means of the ball and socket joints |04--I05 and I2 and the links |03.

In closing the cover E, the beveled edge |68 will press down upon the beveled edge |90, until the edge of the plate |64 Lslides under the edge of the plate' |13, which plate |13 will be biased toward the position shown in Figure 1 by the spring |14.

When this occurs, the rod 2li will be depressed under the extension |840, of the plate |84 causing the cam 231 of Figure 3 to move away from the lever 204 and permit closure of the contacts |03 and 205, completing the motor circuit.

Before the motor A is started, the desired amount of treating liquid is poured through the opening |00 into the lower part of the cone i5.

The motor A is then started by a suitable switch (not shown), which will result in the liq uid 39 being forced outwardly through yarn 69 through the openings 46 and 31, as indicated by the arrows 10 into the trough 82 from whence the used liquid will descend through the pipe 63.

During this rotation, the centrifugal device 23| through the lever 233 will elevate the rod 240 until its upper end enters the recess 250 and contacts the plate 246a. This will prevent the latch G being opened until the motor has slowed suiii ciently to make it no longer dangerous to open the cover E.

When the motor has been turned oil! automatically or manually after a predetermined treatment and has substantially stopped, the cover may be opened by unlatching it through the de vice G and lifted by the operator, which will be made relatively easy by the balancing spring |32. This will cause the arms |33 and the cone |23 to be lifted out of engagement with the basket C and the yarn package J.

The treated yarn may then be removed and a new yarn package placed in position.

It is to be understood, however, that all these variations and alterations as well as any other changes or modifications within the scope of `the invention are all to be included herein and the invention is not to be limited to the specific em-` bodiment above Illustratively set forth.

What is claimed ls:

1. A centrifugal apparatus having a casing, a rotatable member therein, a motor to rotate said rotatable member at a high speed, a circuit provided with a switch to control starting and stopping of said motor, said rotatable member being provided with a carrier for material to be proceased and said casing being provided with an opening to enable access to said material, and insertion and removal thereof, a cover for said opening. a holder for holding said material in said carrier having a linked connection to said cover cover, a cover latch for holding said cover on said casing, and another switch on said circuit opening said circuit unless said cover is closed.

2. A centrifugal apparatus having a casing, a rotatable member therein, a motor to rotate said rotatable member at a high speed, a circuit provided with a switch to control starting and stopping of said motor, said rotatable member being provided with a carrier for material to be processed and said casing being provided with an opening to enable access to said material, and inn sertion and removal thereof, a cover for said opening, a holder for holding said material in said carrier, a cover latch for holding said cover on said casing, and rotatable bearing supports for said rotatable member respectively connected to said casing and said cover, said rotatable bearing supports connected to said cover being suspended from said cover by spaced links to permit relative movement between said last mentioned supports and said cover.

3. A centrifugal apparatus having a casing, a rotatable member therein, a motor to rotate said rotatable member at a high speed, a circuit provided with a switch to control starting and stopping of said motor, said rotatable member being provided with a carrier for material to be processed and said casing being provided with an opening to enable access to said material, and insertion and removal thereof, a cover for said opening, a holder for holding said material in said carrier, a cover latch for holding said cover on said casing, and rotatable flexible bearing supports for the upper and lower ends of said rotatable member.

4. A centrifugal apparatus having a casing, a rotatable member therein, a motor to rotate said rotatable member at a high speed, a circuit provided with a switch to control starting and stopping of said motor, said rotatable member being provided with a carrier for material to be processed and said casing being provided with an opening to enable access to said material, and insertion and removal thereof, a cover for said opening, a holder for holding said material in said carrier, a.cover latch for holding said cover on said casing, said cover being provided with a plurality of depending fiexiblelinks andwith an outer bearing element carried by said links, said holder being provided with an interior bearing element carried by said outer element and with a plurality of radial arms to Contact the rotatable member and with a central element to contact the material.

5. A centrifugal yarn cone extractor comprising an open top cylindrical casing, a basket provided with a. central conical holder for receiving the cone, a. motor, a driving connection between the motor and the basket, a holder for said cone to hold said cone down and center it in the basket, a cover for said casing, a latch to hold said cover down carried by the casing, and link means to rotatably suspend said holder from said cover to permit relative lateral movement between the holder and the cover.

6. A centrifugal yarn cone extractor comprising .an open top cylindrical casing, a basket provided with a central conical holder for receiving the cone, a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the basket, a holder for said cone to hold said cone down and center it in the basket, a cover for said casing, a latch to hold said cover down carried by the casing, and bearing means for the basket located at the top and bottom of the basket and respectively carried by the cover and the casing, said top bearingr means being provided with a connection to said cover permitting relative lateral movement between said cover and said bearing means.

7. The extractor of claim 6, said bearings consisting of ball bearings and being rubber mounted.

8, A centrifugal yarn cone extractor comprising an open top cylindrical casing, a basket provided with a central conical holder for receiving the cone, a. motor, a driving connection between t-he motor and the basket, a holder for said cone to hold said cone down and center it in the basket, a cover for said casing, a latch to hold said cover down carried by the casing, said cover being provided with a plurality of depending flexible links and with an outer bearing element carried by said links, said holder being provided with an interior bearing element carried by said outer element and with a plurality of radial arms to contact the rotatable member and with a central element to contact the material.

9. A centrifugal apparatus having a casing, a rotatable member therein, said rotatable member being provided with a carrier for material to be processed and said casing being provided with an opening to enable access to said material, and insertion and removal thereof, a cover for said opening, a holder for holding said material in said canier, said cover being provided with a plurality of depending ilexible links and with an outer bearing element carried by said links, said holder being provided with an interior bearing element carried by said outer element and with a plurality of radial arms to contact the rotatable member and with a central element to contact the material.

FRITZ LAMIBACH. 

